Tape and terminal fitting assembly



Feb 9 1962 E. M. CASTAGLlUOLO 3,019,504

TAPE AND TERMINAL FITTING ASSEMBLY Filed April 29, 1959 40 495 INVENTORI z A TAGLIUOLO Mlhhlllllmmmmlmmmm 2O ERNEST M C 8 United States Patent3,019,504 TAPE AND TERMINAL FITTING ASSEMBLY Ernest M. Castagliuolo,Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Burroughs Corporation, Detroit, Mich., acorporation of Michigan Filed Apr. 29, 1959, Ser. No. 809,769 2 Claims.(Cl. 24-265) This invention relates generally to mechanical connectionsand more particularly to flexible tapes and terminal fittings foranchoring the ends of the tapes in machine assemblies.

Heretofore, one method of preparing a connecting portion on the ends ofa steel tape or band has been by soldering looped strips to the tapeends. The tape was then assembled into a machine by means of bolts orclevis pins passed through the eyes of the looped ends, thus anchoringthe tape to particular parts of the machine.

In certain installations, for example, in business machine printerswhere such tapes were used for transmitting motion to various parts andmechanisms, it was found that the tensile stresses imposed upon thetapes caused the looped strips at the ends of the tape to break or giveway at the soldered connections, thus resulting in frequent tapereplacements and down time of the machine.

An object of the invention therefore is to provide a tape and terminalfitting assembly characterized by its increased resistance to tensilestress.

Another object of the invention is to provide a quickchange fitting foranchoring an end of a tape, band or the like.

These and other objectives will become more apparent from the followingdetailed description of specific embodiments of the invention when readin conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of one form of tape and terminal assemblyconstructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged assembled view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate modified forms of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the tape end portion.

The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 andcomprises a terminal fitting 10 having a bifurcated head 12, a neckportion 14- terminating at a shoulder 16 and a shank 18 having externalthreads extending up to shoulder 16. Shank 18 is provided with atransverse slot 20 Which extends into neck 1 and terminates in atransverse substantially circular aperture 22 extending through neck'14.

While the invention is illustrated in connection with a terminal or eyefitting, it will be understood that any type of fitting may be used towhich it is desired to attach an end of a tape or band.

A tape 24 to be secured to terminal fitting It) is formed with anenlargement at its end which, as illustrated most clearly in FIG. 6, isobtained preferably by means of a loop 26 formed on a strip 28 havingleg portions 30 and 32 soldered or otherwise secured to the end portionof tape 24 and a pin 33 secured in the eye of loop 26.

The looped tape assembly (FIG. 6) is inserted into slot 20 with the loop26 received in aperture 22. In this 3,019,504 Patented Feb. 6, 1962position it will be seen that the tape assembly is anchoredlongitudinally to the terminal fitting 10. A lock-nut 34 is thenthreaded to shank 18 and tightened against shoulder 16. As the nut istightened, the split portions of shank 18 and neck 14 are forced towardeach other, in the manner of a spring collet, thus effecting a grippingof the shank against legs 30 and 32 and firmly clamping the tapeassembly.

FIG. 4 is an alternative form of the invention in which the terminalfitting shank is now formed as a taper 36 and the locking member is atapered socket or sleeve 38 which is driven up on the taper to lock thetape assembly in the fitting and to provide a greater gripping force.

FIG. 5 is another alternative form of the invention somewhat similar tothat of FIG. 4 in which the shank is formed with a tapered thread 40 anda lock-nut 42 threaded accordingly. This modification, also, providesadditional gripping force on the tape assembly.

It will now be apparent that the improved method of anchoring a band ortape provides for greater tensile strength than prior art methods andprovides further a mechanical connection for rapid assembly of tape orband members.

While there have been disclosed various embodiments of the invention, itis to be understood that these are specific forms exemplary of theprinciples of the invention and that the invention is not to be limitedthereby but only by the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A tape and terminal assembly comprising, an elongated fitting havinga connecting portion at one end for connecting the assembly toassociated apparatus, a straight threaded shank at the opposite end, aneck portion at its medial region having a transverse aperturetherethrough, and a shoulder at the inner end of said threaded shank andnormal thereto, said shank having a transverse axial slot extending fromthe end thereof into said aperture and forming the shank into flexiblegripping portions, said aperture being of larger dimension than thewidth of said slot, a tape, a terminal strip secured to an end of saidtape and having a portion in said slot and an enlarged end eye portionin said aperture, a pin filling said end eye portion, and a locknutthreaded on said shank and surrounding said terminal strip to retain itin said slot, and wherein tightening of said locknut against saidshoulder is accompanied by a reaction force of said shoulder against thelocknut to cause said gripping portions to flex and grip said terminalstrip.

2. A tape and terminal assembly comprising, an elongated fitting havinga connecting portion at one end for connecting the assembly toassociated apparatus, a threaded shank of substantially uniform diameterat the opposite end, a neck portion at its medial region having atransverse aperture therethrough, and a shoulder at the inner end ofsaid threaded shank and normal thereto, said shank having a transverseaxial slot extending from the end thereof into said aperture and formingthe shank into flexible gripping portions, said aperture being of largerdimension than the Width of said slot, a tape having an end portion insaid slot and an enlarged end. eye portion in said aperture, and alocknut threaded on said shank and surrounding said end portion toretain it in said slot, and wherein tightening of said locknut againstsaid shoulder is accompanied by a reaction force to cause said grippingportions to flex into gripping engagement with said end portion of saidtape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSBroughton Dec. 28, 1880 Gale et a1. Apr. 6, 1886 Pickett June 28, 1904Marchand Mar. 7, 1911 Kastner Oct. 11, 1932 4 Weber Dec. 19, 1911 HeeterIan. 21, 1913 Rohr Feb, 14, 1922 Staufler May 9, 1933 Sonic et a1 Sept.4, 1945 La Torre et a1. Sept. 2, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Oct.11, 1890 Great Britain of 1910

